Minutes before scheduled takeoff to Kochi, a Jet Airways’ aircraft suffered minor damage after a motorised trolley used for loading equipment grazed its left engine
A Jet Airways aircraft, parked at the city airport’s International Terminal, suffered minor damage after it came in contact with a loading trolley in the wee hours of Tuesday.
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The flight had arrived from Colombo on its scheduled time of 12.15 am and was parked at bay Y4 for routine minor maintenance work. Around 12.30 am, scratches were noticed on the left engine of the aircraft, apparently caused by a motorised trolley, used for loading equipment, which had come in contact with the stationery twin-jet Boeing 737-800.
‘Panicked’
According to an airport official present at the spot, the ground handlers operating the trolley panicked after the mishap and ran away. “The workers operating the trolley fled as soon as they realised that they had hit the left side of the engine.
The matter is still being investigated by the apron controllers,” said the official. The incident took place after all the passengers on board had deplaned. This aircraft was scheduled to depart for Kochi at 1.50 pm. According to airport officials, the damage was repaired by the time it was scheduled for takeoff.
The 9W 403 Jet flight to Kochi successfully took off at its scheduled time of departure with 113 passengers and 5 crew members on board. Confirming the incident, a Jet Airways spokesperson said, “A parked Jet Airways B737 aircraft sustained minor damage last night, due to impact by a loading equipment belonging to one of the ground handlers.
The aircraft has since been repaired and is fully serviceable. As per the norm in these cases, the matter is being investigated by the airport and other authorities.”